Lowering your energy bills starts with having a more efficient HVAC system that does not need to work extra hard to keep you comfortable. If your system is efficient, your energy bills will be lower. Also, there will be less wear and tear on the parts of your HVAC system. That said, there are several things that you can do to help increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Let’s take a look at some of the things that you can do to reduce your monthly energy bill.
Schedule Professional Maintenance Regularly
Routine maintenance helps to make sure that your system is running as efficiently as possible. If you schedule regular maintenance to keep your system running at peak condition, you will save money by having a lower energy bill and eliminating unexpected breakdowns.
At Jco Heating A/C Electrical, we recommend having one of our HVAC technicians visit your home for maintenance twice a year. Once, during the spring, to make sure all of your cooling components are working properly, and again during the fall to inspect elements of your heating system.
Insulate Your Living Space
No matter how new your home is, there is a chance that air leaks are present in your house. These leaks could be in your attic, within your air ducts, or around the doors and windows. That said, insulating and sealing these gaps can reduce air loss, making it more efficient to heat and cool your living space.
When the space is properly insulated, you keep the warm air inside in the winter and the cool air inside in the summer. This means the system can run less to maintain a comfortable temperature. Thus, since heat loss is minimal, the HVAC system will need to cycle on and off less frequently.
It’s also a good idea to see if you’re losing any conditioned air around windows and doors. Weather stripping, which you can apply yourself, helps to seal up these small cracks, reducing your energy bills and improving your comfort.
Install a Smart Thermostat
When you have a smart thermostat, controlling the temperature is a much simpler task. You have better control over the temperature, and instead of switching it from high to low, you can gradually adjust it, so frequent cycling is not necessary.
You can easily adjust the temperature when you’re not at home. This allows you to stop wasting electricity on heating or cooling your home when you’re not in it. Thanks to the customizable settings, you can tell the thermostat what temperature you want your house to be when you return home, ensuring that you don’t forfeit comfort for efficiency. You can also set zones in your living space. This allows you to lower the temperature in an empty area of the home. You can also adjust your temperature preferences remotely, so you don’t need to access the thermostat directly to interact with it.
A smart thermostat can also integrate with other smart devices in your home so that you can tell devices, like Google Home and Alexa, the temperature that you want the room to be. When filters are dirty or temperatures fluctuate, the thermostat will send an alert to your mobile device so that you can take care of the issue or contact a professional HVAC specialist who can do it for you.
Use Ventilation to Your Advantage
Ventilation is important for your home’s energy efficiency. That said, make sure to use proper ventilation techniques in your home to increase airflow and reduce energy costs. Use your windows to create a cross draft in your home. This will increase airflow in your home and reduce the workload on your heating and cooling system. You can also use ceiling fans to help circulate the air in your living space.
Make sure to use exhaust fans as well to improve the efficiency of your system and the air quality in your living space. When you do this, you will actively remove pollutants from the space and reduce lingering odors in your home as well.
Keep Your HVAC System Clean
One of the main things that you can do to make sure that your HVAC system is efficient is to clean and replace your air filters. Filters will accumulate dust and debris that is floating in the air, and when it sticks to the filter, airflow will decrease. That said, we suggest changing your filters at least every three months to ensure there are no clogs that can create a less efficient system.
Another way to keep your HVAC system efficient is to schedule maintenance, allowing a specialist from our team to visit your home and clean the ducts and vents. A lot of irritants and allergens accumulate in these areas of your HVAC system, and once they get into your system, they circulate from room to room. In addition, cleaning the ducts helps reduce the strain on the system, which means it will run more efficiently.
UV lighting is a method of cleaning bacteria and allergens from your HVAC system. This light shines over the air filter, so it neutralizes them and prevents them from multiplying. With this type of cleaning, you can ensure that mold and mildew will not be able to grow in the ducts. This helps ensure that your system runs more efficiently and that those living in your home have a lower chance of catching a cold from this bacteria.
Upgrade to a High-Efficiency HVAC System
When your HVAC system is aging, there are reasons to upgrade to a more efficient system. It can save you money on your energy bill, and there are some incentives and rebates that you can take advantage of just by installing a high-efficiency unit in your home. One of these systems will maximize efficiency while still providing you with optimal comfort throughout the year.
When looking for an energy-efficient cooling system, make sure you consider the SEER rating. Generally, the higher the rating is, the more efficient the system will be. That said, a rating of 16 or more is highly efficient. Also, make sure to use eco-friendly refrigerant in your cooling system to help reduce your carbon footprint.
When considering a new furnace, look for an AFUE rating of 90% or higher on the most efficient models. All appliances should have an ENERGY STAR certification that ensures that the unit is an efficient model based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.
Contact a Dependable HVAC Company Today
Being comfortable while saving money on energy bills is one of the major benefits of having an efficient HVAC system. At Jco Heating A/C Electrical, we have been serving the Springfield area since 2002. We are a family-owned business that provides exceptional heating and cooling services to the community, and our prompt service will keep you coming back. Whether you need maintenance, repairs, or a fresh installation, our HVAC technicians will be quick to find a solution to your problem. We also provide plumbing services to the community.
At Jco Heating A/C Electrical, we are one of the top providers of heating and cooling services in the Springfield area. We can come for a consultation to see if you need a technician to clean your system or if there are upgrade possibilities that will make it more efficient, including heat pumps or a ductless mini split. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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